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One area of concern is industry and business. In the Master Recycler class we learned that industry's pre-consumer waste is a huge issue. After discussing this with my spouse, we implemented a plastics recycling program at his workplace, which already recycles cardboard and glass. A family-owned business in Marion County recycles plastics, both rigid and stretch plastic. They search out American markets for these materials.
Recently, however, costs have fallen and this recycler can no longer take rigid plastics. They most likely will go back into the dumpster and to the landfill in Polk County. (Marion County, by the way, has a waste-to-energy facility, not a landfill).
What can we do, or our government do, to encourage recycling by businesses - and then make it feasible for Oregon companies to handle materials that will otherwise go to the dump? What about all the recent talk of creating "green jobs" and a "green economy"?
I also highly recommend the Master Recycler training. Marion County's program is now accepting applications!

posted 4 years, 5 months ago
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